House Research Department
Updated: October 2008
Low-Power Vehicles
Page 13
Neighborhood Electric Vehicles and Medium-Speed Electric Vehicles
Classifications9
Neighborhood electric vehicles and medium-speed electric vehicles are similar to golf carts, but
have more power, can carry more passengers or cargo, and are designed for potential operation
on public roads.
Neighborhood electric vehicle. A Minnesota law passed in 2006
defines a neighborhood electric vehicle (NEV) as a four-wheeled,
electrically powered motor vehicle that has a maximum speed of
between 20 and 25 miles per hour on a flat surface. Minn. Stat. §
Medium-speed electric vehicle. A 2008 law created a related
classification: the medium-speed electric vehicle (MSEV). An
MSEV is defined similarly to an NEV. It too is four-wheeled,
electrically powered motor vehicle, but it can have a top speed of
up to 35 miles per hour on a flat surface. It also must be fully
enclosed, have at least one door for entry, be equipped with a roll
cage or crush-proof design, have a minimum wheelbase of 40
inches, have wheels with a diameter of at least 10 inches, and
other than speed capability, it must meet the federal safety
The electric vehicles are rechargeable through the electrical grid and have a range of between 30
to 75 miles before needing to recharge. Models come in styles ranging from two-seaters to
small-scale trucks, normally weighing 1,000 to around 1,500 pounds. They have primarily been
produced for niche uses such as military bases and retirement communities, but their use is
widening. Demand also grew out of combined use on golf courses and adjacent streets. The
largest U.S. market is in California.
Federal Low-Speed Vehicle Classification
Both NEVs and MSEVs must meet a federal safety standard for "low-speed vehicles" in order to
be legally operated on public roads in Minnesota.10 However, the NEV and MSEV definitions
under state law do not completely match the federal classification. There are a couple of
differences, but a key one regards the top speed capability of MSEVs, which under state law is
allowed to be higher than the 25 miles per hour maximum allowed under the federal low-speed
9
10
Federal law establishes a number of safety standards that regulate manufactured motor vehicles. The U.S.
Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) establishes and oversees
technical and engineering specifications for motor vehicle safety equipment, ranging from windshield wipers and
brake hoses to crash resistance and material flammability. Each specification is referred to as a "federal motor
vehicle safety standard."
